Frank fant



iitviTne STATES PATENT Tries.

FRANK FANT, OF JOLTE'I, ILL, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES FAN'[, OF SAME PLACE.

BUSTLE.

Application liled December 21, 1885.

To all wlwm it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANK Firm, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Joliet, in the county of XVill and State of llli nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bu'stles, ofwhich the follow ingis a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvementsin bustles forladics wear, for gracefully shaping the rear part of their skirts, and is so constructed as to be light in weight and cool to the wearer, and so arranged as to be ad j ustable as to form and length and so as to fold or collapse when the wearer is sitting, not preventing her lrom leaning back in her seat, and so it will immediately resume its former shape when-the wearer rises from her seat.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side view of the bustle after having been properly arranged on the wearer. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views of the bustle and its shield through one of the pockets containing the coil-springs of the hustle and crosssections of the waistband. Figs. 4 and 5 are rear perspective views of the bustle. Fig. 6 is a perspective view taken on line 2 of Fig. 4, looking toward the waistband, showing the lower end of the eoilsprings and a crosssection of the pockets into which the springs are placed, and of the cover or shield for shielding the wearers garments from the bustle and preventing them from taking the form of the several springs; and Fig. 7 is a longi tudinal sectional view of a portion of one of the pockets for containing the coil-springs, and a cross-section of the waistband, showing the manner in which a pair of tie-cords are secured in the upper part of said pockets, for securing the coil-springs therein.

B represents the bustle complete.

0 represents the waistbaud,having a buckle, c, for securing it around the waist of the wearer.

I) and D"represcnt a double fold of fabric stitched to the waistband, and also at their sides, (or only at one side if the fold is made from one side,) leaving their lower ends or edges free and open, and also stitched through longitudinally between their sides at suitable "CATEDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 346.436, dated July 2'7, 1886.

Serial Xo. 150,3.6. [No model.)

distances apart to form pockets having their length at about right angles with the waistband when the band is straight, which pockets are for the reception of a set ot' coil-springs, S, for giving form to the bustle. .T and J are a pair of tie-cords secured in the upper end of the said pockets to the waistband, as shown in Fig. 7.

S represents the coil-springs of the bustle, formed so their upper ends are diminished in size and provided with eyes R for the reception of a tie-cord, while their lower opposite ends terminate in a cross-wire, I, secured by being bent around the spring-coil at the opposite side and formed in an eye at the center (shown at (l) for the reception of a tie-wire. The pockets are intended to be smaller at either end than at the center, butlarger at the bottom than at the top.

The manner of securing the coil-springs S in the pockets is as follows: The small end of the springs is first passed into the pockets until they reach or nearly reach the waistband, when the shorter cord, J, is passed through the eye R at that end and tied, which fastens the spring at that end. The longer tie-cord, J, is then passed down through the spring and tied in the eye (Z of the cross-bar 1, securing the lower end to prevent the springs from stretching out of the pockets and losing their form. These cords J may be tied up shorter, if desired, to compress the coils of the springs mostly on the side next the wearer, as shown in Fig. 2, to give grace to the form of the bustle. Only the center spring or all of them may be thus shaped as may please the fancy of the wearer. The more the springs are compressed the more prominently the bustle will project.

A represents a fabric covering or shield, which is also stitched to the waistband, as well as at each side of the hustle, and is for the purpose of shielding the wearers garments from the hustle and preventing them from taking the form of the several springs of the bustle.

Springs of different sizes and lengths may be used, and tied by means of the tie-cords J J, to adapt the bustle to deformed persons and cause their form to appear regular.

The bustle may have as many pockets for springs as desired. The greater number used LII the smaller the side ones should be and the farther the bustle will extend around the waist of the wearer.

In the drawings the springs are shown by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 4 showing three and Fig. 5 five springs.

By this method of attachment the springs may be detached from the bustle so the fabric may be washed and starched and kept in a clean condition; and should the springs for any reason lose their proper form they can be readily replaced by new ones.

I am aware that coil-springs have been used in bustles, but not formed like those described, or having tie-cords to regulate their length and form, or in pockets open at the lower end so the springs can be readily removed and replaced by others when necessary, and so the pocketed fabric can be washed and repaired.

I do not confine myself to the precise form of the coil-spri n g. It may be tapered as shown, or of uniform diameter throughout, as may be found best.

-Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit:

1. The bustle shown and described, consisting of the fabric D D, formed in vertical pockets, the fabric-shield a for covering said pocketed fabric, the coil-springs S, having their diminished upper ends terminate in eyes R and their lower ends in cross-bars P, and placed vertically in said pockets, the tie-cords J J for regulating the length and form of said springs, and the waistband c, secured to the upper edge of said fabrics, all in combination with each other, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a bustle constructed substantially as shown and described, the coil-springs S, having their diminished upper ends terminate in eyes R and their lower ends in cross-bars I, having the central eyes, (I, in combination with the tie-cords J J, as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANK FANT.

\Vitnesscs:

'Irros. H. IIUTcHINs, WM. J. HU'roI-IINs. 

